Which species example shows that yellowjacket coloration can appear significantly darker than the typical pattern?
Answer
Southern Yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa)
While the archetype of a yellowjacket involves vivid, bright yellow bands contrasting sharply against a jet-black background, not all species adhere strictly to this high-contrast appearance. For example, the Eastern Yellowjacket displays this classic, bright pattern. However, the Southern Yellowjacket (*Vespula squamosa*) is specifically noted for exhibiting significantly darker coloration in some specimens. In these darker morphs, the yellow pigmentation may be substantially reduced or even replaced entirely by paler shades, leading to an insect that might appear almost entirely black when viewed from a distance, thus complicating identification based solely on brightness.
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